Polk County, Arkansas

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,662.[1] The county seat is Mena.[2] Polk County is Arkansas's 48th county, formed on November 30, 1844, and named for James Polk, President of the United States. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Polk County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°30′07″N 94°14′27″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedNovember 30, 1844
Named forJames K. Polk
SeatMena
Largest cityMena
Area
 • Total862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Land858 sq mi (2,220 km2)
 • Water4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,662
 • Estimate 
(2019)
19,964
 • Density24/sq mi (9.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 862 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 858 square miles (2,220 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,263—
18604,262237.5%
18703,376−20.8%
18805,85773.5%
18909,28358.5%
190018,35297.7%
191017,216−6.2%
192016,412−4.7%
193014,857−9.5%
194015,8326.6%
195014,182−10.4%
196011,981−15.5%
197013,29711.0%
198017,00727.9%
199017,3472.0%
200020,22916.6%
201020,6622.1%
2019 (est.)19,964[4]−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2016[1]
Age pyramid Polk County[9]

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 20,229 people, 8,047 households, and 5,793 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). There were 9,236 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.69% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 1.49% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.72% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 3.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,047 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,180, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $23,397 versus $17,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,063. 18.20% of the population and 14.00% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.50% were under the age of 18 and 16.20% were 65 or older.

As of 2010 Polk County had a population of 20,662. Of this population 89.77% were non-Hispanic whites, 0.31% were blacks, 1.76% Native Americans, 0.45% Asians, 2.03% non-Hispanics reporting one or more race and 5.76% Hispanic or Latino.

Government

Over the past few election cycles Polk County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2016) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1992.

Presidential elections results
Polk County vote
by party in presidential elections [11]
Year GOP Dem Others
2016 80.40% 6,618 14.72% 1,212 4.87% 401
2012 77.08% 5,955 20.14% 1,556 2.78% 215
2008 71.25% 5,473 25.48% 1,957 3.27% 251
2004 66.57% 5,192 31.71% 2,473 1.72% 134
2000 63.95% 4,600 32.18% 2,315 3.87% 278
1996 42.70% 2,852 42.28% 2,824 15.02% 1,003
1992 38.20% 2,757 43.81% 3,162 17.98% 1,298
1988 62.15% 4,099 36.24% 2,390 1.61% 106
1984 70.15% 5,181 28.45% 2,101 1.41% 104
1980 58.51% 3,993 38.35% 2,617 3.14% 214
1976 40.76% 2,432 58.75% 3,505 0.49% 29
1972 74.83% 3,609 23.22% 1,120 1.95% 94
1968 40.30% 2,094 24.83% 1,290 34.87% 1,812
1964 43.88% 2,022 55.88% 2,575 0.24% 11
1960 51.82% 1,882 45.02% 1,635 3.17% 115
1956 58.29% 1,832 40.95% 1,287 0.76% 24
1952 55.91% 1,756 43.90% 1,379 0.19% 6
1948 25.89% 554 66.21% 1,417 7.89% 169
1944 43.09% 764 56.35% 999 0.56% 10
1940 31.49% 585 67.55% 1,255 0.97% 18
1936 30.95% 537 67.44% 1,170 1.61% 28
1932 11.90% 223 83.67% 1,568 4.43% 83
1928 53.34% 1,022 45.41% 870 1.25% 24
1924 31.49% 502 54.14% 863 14.37% 229
1920 46.27% 1,173 47.65% 1,208 6.07% 154
1916 26.51% 448 73.49% 1,242 0.00% 0
1912 11.08% 162 47.47% 694 41.45% 606
1908 37.88% 628 49.70% 824 12.42% 206
1904 40.44% 476 44.86% 528 14.70% 173
1900 29.63% 411 66.47% 922 3.89% 54
1896 4.78% 51 94.10% 1,004 1.12% 12

Polk County is the setting for Stephen Hunter's fictional Bob Lee Swagger series, the most notable being Black Light, as well as the place where Joel B Reed's fictional character, Jazz Phillips, of the Jazz Phillips mystery series, grew up.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated community

Townships
Townships in Polk County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Polk County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [12][13]

  • Acorn (small part of Mena)
  • Big Fork
  • Cedar
  • Center (most of Mena)
  • Cove (Hatfield)
  • Eagle
  • Faulkner
  • Freedom
  • Fulton
  • Gap Springs
  • Mill Creek
  • Mountain
  • Ouachita
  • Ozark (Grannis, Wickes)
  • Potter (small part of Mena)
  • Rich Mountain
  • White (Cove, Vandervoort)

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. Based on 2000 census data
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  12. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Polk County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  13. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

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